It was a bittersweet week for comics as I found out, definitively, that this week's Secret Six is the second to last issue of the series. On to the reviews... sadly...
In Fourth Place:
Flashpoint: Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #2
Geoff Johns did such a great job in rebirthing Sinestro in Green Lantern: Rebirth, that I've seen more stories since that are supposed to be about another character, and wind up being about Sinestro. This book is an example of that. While its titled ABIN SUR, its just as much about Sinestro. And that's not a knock on the book at all because Sinestro is fucking cool.
A lot is learned about the Flashpoint world in this issue. Like how Atrocitus has forseen the timeline jump and warns Sinestro about it, not Abin Sur. As Sinestro sees an opportunity to take control of the universe, it sets up a climactic finish between he and Abin.
As far as the artwork goes, this issue doesn't have the smoothest transition between Robson Rocha, Felipe Massafera and Joe Prado, though DC probably hoped it would. Each artist does a fine job with his pages, but they're clearly different from each other. This is something I'd like to see DC get cleaned up for the reboot.
Geoff Johns did such a great job in rebirthing Sinestro in Green Lantern: Rebirth, that I've seen more stories since that are supposed to be about another character, and wind up being about Sinestro. This book is an example of that. While its titled ABIN SUR, its just as much about Sinestro. And that's not a knock on the book at all because Sinestro is fucking cool.
A lot is learned about the Flashpoint world in this issue. Like how Atrocitus has forseen the timeline jump and warns Sinestro about it, not Abin Sur. As Sinestro sees an opportunity to take control of the universe, it sets up a climactic finish between he and Abin.
As far as the artwork goes, this issue doesn't have the smoothest transition between Robson Rocha, Felipe Massafera and Joe Prado, though DC probably hoped it would. Each artist does a fine job with his pages, but they're clearly different from each other. This is something I'd like to see DC get cleaned up for the reboot.
Our Third Place Finish:
Superboy #9
I really like the cover for this issue. I prefer Superman and Superboy to have more lean than bulky body structures. Very cool cover.
As for the story on the inside, its some crazy, wacky sci-fi, but its some pretty cool stuff. Superboy and Co. find a whole city of zombies living beneath Smallville along with a factory producing hundreds of clones of Conner himself. Its a pretty quick paced issue that doesn't drag you down with dialogue or anything unnecessary.
Pier Gallo's art continues to get the job done while not being flashy. I'd like to see his work with a different colorist. Someone who uses harder edges to see if I'd like it any different.
I really like Connor Kent. He's been handled really well and has been a pleasure to read since Geoff Johns' run on Teen Titans. Its a shame the only sneak peek at him from the reboot looks like they'll absolutely ruin the character. Were Tim Drake, Connor and Cassie Sandsmark really in such a bad spot that they needed reinvented? I guess we'll find out, but from that 90s-ass art by Brett Booth, I'm not hopeful.
A Heartbreaking Second Place Finish:
Secret Six #35
This issue breaks my heart. Next issue, Secret Six comes to a close. Its not being picked up in the September reboot. DC has been nice enough to let Gail Simone end this series on her own terms though. And she's doing just that.
Unfortunately, its doesn't feel like its entirely on her own terms. Reading these characters this issue is like seeing someone begin to lose all sense of who they are. Forgetting their names and everything they've become for the last 36 issues and regressing into the one dimensional shells that they were before Gail Simone made them characters who mattered; not characters who were just plot devices for A-listers. Reading this issue reminds me of a lyric from the Death Cab For Cutie song, "What Sarah Said": "love is watching someone die."
This issue sets up the final run of the Secret Six: Bane's grand assault on Batman. The feeling of "the end" has been written into the issue. Simone makes it so the characters feel it as well as the reader. Its very entertaining and well-written just like this whole series has been. But its also sad.
And I can't help shaking the feeling part of this story is because someone higher than Gail Simone said, "um, yeah, we're going to need Bane for when The Dark Knight Rises opens, so uh... write him out of your story." Its a shame because I can guarantee you Bane will never be written with as much honor, depth and humanity as he's been written by Simone. That goes for all of the Secret Six to different extents.
This issue breaks my heart. Next issue, Secret Six comes to a close. Its not being picked up in the September reboot. DC has been nice enough to let Gail Simone end this series on her own terms though. And she's doing just that.
Unfortunately, its doesn't feel like its entirely on her own terms. Reading these characters this issue is like seeing someone begin to lose all sense of who they are. Forgetting their names and everything they've become for the last 36 issues and regressing into the one dimensional shells that they were before Gail Simone made them characters who mattered; not characters who were just plot devices for A-listers. Reading this issue reminds me of a lyric from the Death Cab For Cutie song, "What Sarah Said": "love is watching someone die."
This issue sets up the final run of the Secret Six: Bane's grand assault on Batman. The feeling of "the end" has been written into the issue. Simone makes it so the characters feel it as well as the reader. Its very entertaining and well-written just like this whole series has been. But its also sad.
And I can't help shaking the feeling part of this story is because someone higher than Gail Simone said, "um, yeah, we're going to need Bane for when The Dark Knight Rises opens, so uh... write him out of your story." Its a shame because I can guarantee you Bane will never be written with as much honor, depth and humanity as he's been written by Simone. That goes for all of the Secret Six to different extents.
In First Place:
Flashpoint #3
The only thing that detracted from how good this issue was... was the registration. The color registration is off on enough pages to be a distraction throughout the entire issue. But other than that, this issue is sharp.
You get a real sense of what Cyborg is all about and where his loyalty to mankind lies. He's the same Vic Stone DC fans have been reading for years, but a little more reserved and stoic. Thomas Wayne also feels a hair different from Bruce. But I can't tell if that's Geoff Johns' writing or my knowing he's not Bruce.
Barry, starting to lose his memories of the old DCU, is racing to find members of his regular DCU Justice League to stop Reverse-Flash before its too late. Its a pretty cool premise that give us a good look at what's become of our heroes in the world of Flashpoint as Barry tracks them down. I'd like to see it continue for another issue.
Andy Kubert's art is amazing the whole way through. The Panel of the Week in particular. The only thing wrong with the art is the color registration and that's to no fault of the creators. And I'm sure not EVERY issue is like that. Just the one I got. Nice.
For as much as I've liked these first 3 issues, I can't seem to fully invest myself. I think that's because I know what Flashpoint is heralding toward us. Flashpoint is the catalyst for the DCnU reboot that I'm less that thrilled about. For as myopic as it is, if this was a regular event, and the DCU would be restored as-was at the end, I'd have a much bigger boner for this story.
The Panel of the Week:
This page is gruesome and so well done that I can't stop looking at it.
-Gint
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